Rongai Route 7 DaysClimbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Rongai Route 7 Days
On this Rongai Route 7 Days, Kilimanjaro Bound will avoid the crowded Marangu Route on Mount Kilimanjaro. We prefer to approach the mountain from the north by the lightly-used Rongai Route. The Rongai Route 7 Days starts just south of the Kenya / Tanzania border and has been almost unused for many years because the area was considered “sensitive”.
Now open for climbing again, experienced guides consider this ascent route to be both easier and more beautiful than the main Marangu trail. The Rongai Route 7 Days begins in attractive farmland and delightful rain forests where you will have the possibility of seeing the amazing wildlife of Tanzania. On Rongai Route 7 Days we will pass through several different climate zones which adds considerably more to the interest of your Kilimanjaro experience.
We also add two extra days to the standard five day itinerary to ensure maximum acclimatisation and give everyone the best possible chance of enjoying the magnificent scenery and reaching Uhuru Peak.
Recent National Park statistics indicate that the chance of reaching the summit increases by at least 30% if an extra day is spent acclimatising. The deviation to Mawenzi Tarn is very beautiful and on a little-used trail through moorland. This route retains a sense of un-spoilt wilderness and offers a different perspective on Kilimanjaro by approaching it from the North.
If you want to ask us anything at all after reading this itinerary for Rongai Route 7 Days, you can contact us online and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
After your life changing experience of climbing and reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro using Rongai Route 7 Days you will have the choice of booking an incredible Safari of the National Parks of Tanzania, checking out the culture with some of our short tours or taking a well earned rest on the island of Zanzibar.
Kilimanjaro Bound will take care of you and your party and organise everything you need for the trip of a lifetime.
More about Rongai Route 7 Days on Wikipedia.
- Only Northern approach to Kilimanjaro.
- Offers a true wilderness experience on the early stages of the climb.
- Very tough final summit night from the North.
- Fewer acclimatisation opportunities.
- Less scenic and flat than other routes.
Also known as the Nalemuru Route. Although the scenery is not as varied as the western routes, Rongai Route 7 Days makes up for this by passing through true wilderness areas for days before joining the Marangu Route at Kibo Camp. The Rongai Route is a moderately difficult route, and is highly recommended, especially for those with less backpacking experience. There are different options to complete the climb in 5, 6, or 7 days.
Rongai Route 7 Days Itinerary
Rongai route begins at the remote, northern side of Kilimanjaro, near the Kenyan border. We hike through a true wilderness area towards the jagged Mawenzi Peak, then cross a barren desert saddle, before climbing up Kibo’s eastern crater wall.
The Rongai route is a more gradual ascent, and is therefore preferred by those with little or no backpacking experience, but is equally enjoyable for even the most hardened trekkers. This is Our First Choice when choosing The Rongai Route and it Takes 7 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro.
The climb begins and ends in Moshi.
Day 1
Arriving any time at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), there will be a private transfer waiting at the Airport to pickup you to the hotel in Moshi where is noted for overnight stay.
We will gather in the hotel for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check.
We will also check and confirm you have the appropriate mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance.
Day 2
After completing the necessary registration formalities at the Rongai National Park gate, The climb begins at the gate (1,950 m/ 6500 ft) on a small path that winds through fields of maize and potatoes before entering pine forest. The track then starts to climb consistently, but gently through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife, including the beautiful Kilimanjaro Colobus monkey. These monkeys are black with a long ‘cape’ of white hair and a flowing whitetail.
The forest begins to thin out and the first camp is at the edge of the moorland zone (2,600 m/ 9,000ft.) with extensive views over the Kenyan plains. [3-4 hours walking, Distance 8 km/5 miles, Habitat- Rain forest zone]
Day 3
This is only a morning walk up to the ‘Second Cave’ (3,450 m/ 11,300 ft). The walk is steady uphill with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern icefields on the crater rim. The afternoon can be spent enjoying the view over the Kenyan plains or doing a short acclimatisation walk up towards Third Cave. [3-4 hours walking, Distance 6 km/4 miles, Habitat-Heather and moorland zone]
Day 4
We now leave the main trail and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. Our campsite is in a sheltered valley with giant senecios near Kikelewa Caves (3600 m/ 11,800 ft).
After a hot lunch there is time to wander in the valleys and see the special vegetation. [2.5-3.5 hours walking, Distance 6 km/4 miles, Habitat- Alpine desert zone]
Day 5
A short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb all round views and a tangible sense of wilderness. We leave vegetation behind shortly before reaching the next camp at Mawenzi Tarn (4,330 m/ 14,150 ft), spectacularly situated in a cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi.
The afternoon will be free to rest or explore the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatisation. [3-4 hours walking, Distance 5 km/3 miles, Habitat-Alpine desert zone]
Day 6
We cross the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo campsite (4,700 m/ 15,450 ft) at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night! [4-5 hours walking, Distance 8 km/5 miles, Habitat- Alpine desert zone]
Day 7
We will start the final, and by far the steepest and most demanding, part of the climb by torchlight around 12 a.m. We plod very slowly in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point (5,685 m/ 18,600 ft).
We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three hour round trip to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/ 19,340 ft), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
The descent to Kibo (4,700 m/15,450 ft) is surprisingly fast and, after some refreshment, we continue the descent to reach our final campsite at Horombo (3,720 m/ 12,200 ft.). [11-15 hours walking, Distance 20 km/14 miles, Habitat- Summit zone]
Day 8
A steady descent takes us down through moorland to Mandara Hut (2,700 m/ 8,8500 ft), the first stopping place at the Marangu route. We then continue descending through lovely lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu (1,830 m/ 6,000 ft). [5-6 hours walking, Distance 20 km/12 miles, Habitat-Rain forest zone].
Day 9
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and fly back home.
Important Information About Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Price Includes
- Accommodations the night before and the night after the trek two nights in Moshi
- Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- All Park fees
- Entry fees, Rescue fees, camping fees or hut fees
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Arrival and Departure transfers
- Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Transport to the gate on starting day and after the trek
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Private, portable chemical flush toilets
- Fair and ethical treatment of porters
- Portable Summit Emergency Oxygen
- Kilimanjaro National park certificate for successful summit attempt
- Flying Doctor Service
Price Excludes
- Tanzania Visa: $50 per person on arrival
- Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
- Meals not listed above
- Optional Tours (short safari before or after your climb, marangu village day tour, day trip to lake challa, etc)
- Tips and any items of personal nature
- Health requirements (Yellow Fever – only compulsory if you travel to Tanzania via a Yellow Fever infected country, Meningitis & Hepatitis A remains optional, but comes recommended)
our customers love us
Latest Reviews
“Fantastic experience! Really well looked after by our porters and our guides Leonard and Aggrey.”
K Kelly
“On summit day, our guides ended up carrying our day bags and motivated us, to make sure we would make it. Can only recommend these guys!”
Annika Reeh
“Leonard and Aggrey were so knowledgable about everything, that they even made the walking feel easy!! It’s definitely safe to say I would have never reached the summit without the help of my team, I would recommend these guys to anyone, every day of the week.”
Jess A
“Aggrey & William are real professionals and heroes in guiding us to the top.”
+255 754 991 992